"When is the last time you've been wild, sis?" I challenged. I often thought my oldest siblings never got the chance to live a little and be wild, let loose. Val had jumped from juggling the pub and our family to building her business. Sometimes I wondered if Val would even know how to let loose and be wild.
"Ufff... I think navel piercings were in style. But we're not talking about me, are we?" Val asked.
"Girls, I'm a single mom, remember? I don't just have myself to think about."
"Single parents do date, you know," Val said.
Deep down, I knew that, but I wasn't sure how to go about changing things without shaking the precarious balance Milo and I had reached.
"Sometimes I wonder if you’re single to protect Milo, or yourself," Hailey said.
"What do you mean?"
"You're still afraid to put yourself out there. You're afraid to let a man in your life," Val explained.
"Of course I am." Was I not supposed to be?
"Dating doesn't always lead to something permanent, obviously," Val said, pointing to both her and Hailey, "but you've been alone for a long time. You deserve some fun."
"You girls are filling my head with crazy ideas."
"Mission accomplished. Val, pass me the Quick-Dry," Hailey said triumphantly.
While Val used the curling iron on my hair, I did Hailey's nails. We'd perfected the art of getting each other ready at the same time during our teenage years.
An hour later, all three of us had our nails painted. Mine were bright red. My hair was styled in a high ponytail with curls cascading down on my back. I'd done my own makeup, trying on a subtle smoky eyes look. I was rocking it. Val handed me a small, unlabeled bottle of perfume.
"What's this?" I asked.
"An exclusive sample."
I sprayed the air and immediately fell in love with it. I detected notes of lilac, vanilla, and something spicy.
"It smells amazing."
She winked. "I know."
Hailey inspected me from head to toe then gave me a thumbs-up. "You’re gorgeous."
I felt gorgeous as I put on my shoes. I'd brought my trusted nude pumps, because they looked sophisticated but were comfortable. I found Milo and Jace downstairs, gulping water and breathing heavily.
"Wanna kiss me goodbye?" I asked my son.
"Mommy, you’re so pretty," Milo said, kissing my cheek.
"You're working?" Jace asked slowly. I nodded.
His brother-senses were picking up on the trying-too-hard vibes I had going on. In those years when Will had been part-time bad boy, Jace had watched over me and Hailey like a hawk. At thirteen, he'd seemed more like sixteen. Not only had he been tall, but his strong build had intimidated anyone who wanted to pick a bone with us. He'd gotten excellent at sniffing out “bad intentions.” Luckily for me, those instincts had dulled over the years. Jace didn't ask any more questions. Will would have. His instincts had only gotten sharper; I blamed it on him being a cop.
He wouldn't have anything to sniff out, though. Yes, I was a little too put together for a working event, but a girl could indulge once in a while, couldn't she? For her own pleasure?
Chapter Ten
Lori
The rehearsal dinner was taking place in the wedding tent. Amber agreed that it made sense to host it there.
"I'm so happy I listened to you about the flooring. I'd have fallen on my ass five times already otherwise," Amber said, tapping her right foot lightly over the faux-oak flooring inside the tent. She'd initially protested, saying it was too expensive and we could just have a thick carpet instead.